Margaret Tanner is an award-winning, best-selling Australian
author, who writes Sweet Western Historical Romance, plus Contemporary Romance
and Historical Romance with a small dose of sizzle.
Margaret is married and has three grown-up sons and two
gorgeous little granddaughters. Outside
of her family and friends, writing is her passion.
Margaret was also invited to participate in the American Mail
Order Bride Series, 50 brides from 50 states, from 45 different authors. Her
story is Edwina, Bride of Connecticut which is Book No 5 in the series.
She loves delving into the pages of history as she carries
out research for her historical novels. No book is too old or tattered for her
to trawl through, no museum too dusty, or website too hard to navigate.
Many of
her novels have been inspired by true events, with one being written around the
hardships and triumphs of her pioneering ancestors in frontier Australia. She
once spent a couple of hours in an old goal cell so she could feel the chilling
cold and fear.
She has now fallen in love with writing Western Historical
novellas, and found it an easy transition. Frontier Australia and frontier
America, have many similarities - isolated communities living in a harsh,
unforgiving environment, a large single male population, and a lack of
marriageable women.
Q & A
Tell me
about yourself. What got you started writing?
I have
always liked writing. I started out when I was about 8 years old writing sad
little poems, then graduated to short stories, and was fortunate enough to win
a few prizes. My true love, writing historical romance, started when my husband
used to work nightshift and I had a lot of time on my hands when my children
were small. I now write sweet Historical Western Romance and I feel I have
really found my niche.
How did you
come up with your book idea? What inspired you?
My ideas
usually pop into my head when I am in bed. I am inspired by the fortitude and
bravery of our pioneer women who were not afraid to brave the wilderness for
the men they love. In this book, I wondered how a woman would feel if she was
jilted just hours before her wedding and what options were open to her.
What was the
most difficult part of writing this book? How did you overcome this difficulty?
The most
difficult part in writing this book, was I think, my husband was not well at
the time, so I had to fit my writing in to focus on his needs.
Who is your
favorite character from the novel? What about them makes them your favorite?
Jemma, the
heroine, was my favorite. I thought she was very brave to take the risks that
she did, and also she showed a lot of fortitude in helping the wounded hero.
Do your
characters (or message) ever seem to have a life of their own or agenda?
Yes, they
certainly do. Once I start the story, they seem to steer me into the direction
they want it to take.
How has
writing this book impacted you personally?
It made me
realize that every cloud has a silver lining.
How many
books do you currently have published? What genres?
I have 4 contemporary romances, 8 Australian Historical
Romances and 38 Western Historical Romances.
What is your
favorite thing about writing? Your least favorite?
My favorite
thing about writing is creating these people who become my friends, and
fashioning a lifestyle for them. My least favorite is actually typing the story
up.
What authors
in your genre inspire you most?
Cheryl
Wright, Susan Horsnell, Hebby Roman, Charlene Raddon
What would
you tell a beginning author who wants to publish but doesn’t believe he/she has
enough talent?
I would tell
them never to give up on your dream, no matter how many setbacks you get.
Perseverance is the key to success.
Sweet
Western Romance.
Jilted the day before her wedding in favor of a rich older woman, Jemma Holbrook is left
in dire circumstances.
In desperation, she pretends to be a boy and sneaks on board a freight train bound
for Texas. Her situation becomes even grimmer on discovering the rail wagon
she’s been hiding in has been shunted off the mainline and left in the
wilderness.
Marshal Kyle
Lovitt is ambushed and left for dead by outlaws. Jemma comes to his rescue and
nurses him back to health.
When Kyle
discovers her gender, he insists they get married because he has compromised
her.
Will Kyle
only ever feel gratitude and an obligation to do the gentlemanly thing by her,
or can Jemma win his love?
Title: Calm Before the Storm
